Highlights of Le Marche: Italy Small Group Tour

Detailed itinerary

Meals Included: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Day 1 Pesaro (D)

Your guide will meet the group at the hotel at 4.00pm. Introductions and a small talk on the tour will precede an afternoon walk devoted to exploring Pesaro and its treasures, which include the ancient centre with its Ducal Palace, Piazza Del Popolo, the house of Giaochino Rossini, Pesaro’s famous composer and favourite son. We will also visit the now world-famous music school, founded by Rossini: The Rossini Conservatoire which hosts artists and musicians from all over the world. A visit to several important churches housing some fabulous artworks is included. Dinner will be at one of the oldest trattorie in the centre of the city which serves traditional Marchigiana cuisine.

Day 2 Pesaro/Novilara/Gradara (BLD)

Today, after breakfast the group will explore the surrounding hills of Pesaro which are dotted with medieval hamlets and Renaissance towns. We drive through the San Bartolo National Park perched high above the Adriatic stopping at Novilara, a medieval hill town with magnificent views of the countryside. Lunch is organised in a traditional trattoria famous for its local produce. In the afternoon we visit Gradara: a medieval town dominated by its magnificent castle which overlooks the Adriatic Sea. The group will have a tour of the castle and the impressive walled town. Gradara was made famous by Italy’s famous poet, Dante from his works including “Inferno”, a literature piece dating from the 14th Century relaying the tragic love affair which occurred in this castle. Dinner in Gradara with the local special Piadina accompanied by a famous local wine.

Day 3 Pesaro/Urbino/Urbania (BL)

Today we explore the land once ruled by the medieval lords of Montefeltro. We visit Urbino, which after Florence, was one of the most important centres of the Italian Renaissance and also the birthplace of Raphael. There will be a tour of the magnificent Ducal Palace which houses the Galleria Nazionale Delle Marche with its precious paintings by Piero Della Francesca, Tiziano, Paolo Uccello and Raphael. We then make our way to the historical city of Urbania which is famous for its Majolica ceramics and visit a number of local artisans’ workshops. Lunch will be at an award winning osteria which serves regional specialties the osteria is famous for and its special local wines. We then make our way back to Pesaro for a free evening.

Day 4 Pesaro/San Marino/San Leo (BL)

After Breakfast, we travel just over the Le Marche border for a day visit to the tiny Republic of San Marino which claims to be the oldest state and constitutional republic in the world. It is worth a visit for its history, pageantry and its magnificent hilltop setting, which offers excellent views of the surrounding countryside and the sea. San Marino is jam packed with duty free shops and well worth shopping for leather goods, jewellery, watches and many other goods. In the afternoon, we will visit the nearby hill town of San Leo with its medieval castle perched above sheer cliffs. We will rest in the town square for lunch and taste the delicious formaggio di fossa: a cheese walled up in rock caves to mature for months. Free evening.

Day 5 Pesaro/Jesi (BLD)

Today we travel south to the city of Jesi, the capital of the famous vine-growing region of Verdicchio. Our lunch will be at a family-owned and run, award-winning winery, tasting local produce accompanied by Verdicchio wines. We will then make our way to the historical town of Jesi, where we will have a walking tour of the main highlights followed by a dinner at a local trattoria.

Day 6 Jesi/Loreto/Recanati/Ascoli Piceno (BD)

Today we leave the beautiful town of Jesi and in air-conditioned comfort travel to see the spectacular towns of Loreto and Recanati before proceeding to our destination of Ascoli Piceno. Our first stop is a beautiful hill town second only to Assisi and Rome as a place of religious pilgrimage. The town and its magnificent cathedral is a showcase of ingenious architecture and houses works by some of the greatest artists. After lunch we visit the city of Recanati which was the birthplace of Giacomo Leopardi, Italy’s greatest romantic poet. Also, the world-renowned tenor Beniamino Gigli who had his home in Recanati. We visit the museum in Villa Colloredo-Melson on the outskirts of town which houses the greatest art treasures of Recanati and a room with four of Lorenzo Lotto’s finest pictures. We then make our way to Ascoli Piceno where we will check into the hotel. Dinner will be in a traditional local restaurant.

Day 7 Ascoli Piceno (BD)

Today we will explore the town of Ascoli Piceno visiting the historical centre. We visit two of the most significant town squares: Piazza del Popolo, with its travertine pavement and 13th century Palazzo as well as Piazza Arringo. These two squares are considered some of the most renowned and beautiful in all of Italy. The Civic Picture Gallery, decorated with Murano glass chandeliers and housing paintings by Titian and Crivelli, is an important place to visit together with the Cathedral of St Emidio with some spectacular mosaics. Dinner will be in a traditional restaurant.

Day 8 Ascoli/Fermo/Pesaro (BL)

We leave Ascoli after breakfast and will make our way to Pesaro where the tour ends. On the way to Pesaro, we visit Fermo, situated on the Sabulo Hill where you can see spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. The Duomo, dating back to the 1200’s, showcases a number of Gothic architectural features in the façade and its Campanile. In Fermo, we will see remnants of a Roman Amphitheatre and battlement walls dating from Medieval Times. Fermo and surrounding towns produce some of the most famous handmade shoes with such brands as Hogan, Tods and Nero Giardini as well as many others. Lunch will be in a traditional local restaurant. After lunch we make our way to Pesaro where the tour will end at around 4:00pm.